The City of Kirksville is planning a bigger and better Halloween celebration this year, moving events to the wide-open spaces of Rotary Park for the first Harvest Heyday Fall Festival.

Set for Saturday from 4-6 p.m. and hosted by the Kirksville Parks and Recreation Department, the event is replacing the former Children's Halloween Carnival, bringing "bigger and messier" events than were possible either downtown or, as was the case last year, in a school gymnasium, said Robin Harden, with the City of Kirksville.

Harden said she and others wanted to do something significantly different from the Carnival.

"We'd been doing that since I was a little girl," Harden said. "I always wanted to do something different. We've got a great park, a great big, open space, so let's try it."

While the Heyday will have some games and events retained from the Carnival, Harden promised some new tricks in store for costumed visitors on Saturday. A large hay bale and tank of corn kernels will each serve as hiding spots for multiple prizes, and in taking advantage of the outdoors an egg drop contest has been added.

"You couldn't do an egg toss in a gym," Harden said.

The NEMO Country Dance Club will be present and offering free line dancing lessons, as well.

The evening will be capped by a showing of "Hocus Pocus" at the Ray Klinginsmith Amphitheatre.